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Bio: Schmitz, Richard L. (Coordinator - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Schmitz

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/9/1985 -?-

Schmitz, Richard L. (Coordinator - 1985)

Richard I. Schmitz, former houseparent at Sunburst Youth Homes, Neillsville, has been named coordinator of off-campus services at Bethesda Lutheran Home, Watertown. He is responsible for the total living and habilitation program for the mentally retarded adults in Bethesda’s community living program.

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Obit: Acheson, Donald J. (1907 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Acheson, McElroy, Pagenkopf, Naedler, Haack, Zank, Hallie, Weiting, Lien, Olson, Baldeshwiler, Voll

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/16/1985

Acheson, Donald J. (28 July 1907 – 12 May 1985)

Seventy-seven year old Donald J. Acheson, Route 3, Neillsville, died on Sunday, May 12, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield. He had been ill for some time.

The son of John and Rebecca (McElroy) Acheson, he was born July 28, 1907, at Dale, in Outagamie County. As a young child, his family moved to Eagle Point in Chippewa County; later the family settled in the Town of Weston in the Christie area, and it is here that he completed his education.

In Winona, Minnesota, on December 16, 1945, he took Helen Pagenkopf for his bride. Farming the rest of his life in the Town of Weston, he was active in various farm organizations. For many years, he also held jobs in road construction and lumbering while on the farm.

Surviving family includes his wife; two daughters, Pat Acheson, Schofield, Pam Acheson, St. Cloud, Minnesota; two sisters, Mrs. Hilbert (Hazel) Naedler, Neillsville, and Mrs. George (Neta) Haack, Milwaukee. Preceding him in death were his parents, one brother, Russell, and one infant sister.

Services for the deceased were held by Rev. Mark Voll on Wednesday, May 15, at the United Church of Christ, Neillsville, with burial in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Albert Zank, Glen Hallie, Donald Weiting, John Lien, Donald Olson and Ray Baldeshwiler.

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Obit: Dlouhy, Leo W. (1924 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Dlouhy, Earsa, Zenisek, Valasco, Serbousek, Beck

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/23/1985

Dlouhy, Leo W. (15 June 1924 – 19 May 1985)

Sixty-one year old Merrillan resident, Leo W. Dlouhy, died Sunday, May 19, at his home. Dr. Guy Beck officiated at funeral services which were held on Wednesday May 22, at Torgerson’s Funeral Chapel, Black River Falls. Burial was made in the Hatfield Cemetery.

Born June 15, 1924, in Fairfax, Iowa, he was the son of Emil and Helen (Earsa) Dlouhy. Later married to the former Mary Zenisek, he was a self-employed mechanic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1964, they moved to Neillsville and resided there until 1973, when Hatfield became their home.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, Tom, Palm Bay, Florida, and Wayne, Black River Falls; a daughter, Elaine Valasco, Orange Park, Florida; three brothers, Frank, Donald and Eugene Dlouhy, all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; one sister, Lillian Serbousek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and four grandchildren.

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Obit: Gardner, Keith A. - Dr. (1945 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gardner, Haines, Munro

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/16/1985

Gardner, Dr. Keith A. (22 July 1945 – 28 April 1985) With Flag

Memorial services were held on May 2, at First Unitarian Church Chapel, San Francisco, for Dr. Keith A. Gardner, 39, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Gardner, Sr., rural Marshfield. In ill health during the past year, he died April 28, at Pacific Presbyterian Hospital in San Francisco, where he had been a patient since April 6.

His body was cremated as he had requested. Memorials are being given to the American Cancer Fund.

He was born July 22, 1945, in Neillsville, to Russell and Ella (Haines) Gardner. A graduate of Granton High School, he continued his education at UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison. After achieving a master’s degree in 1969, he entered the U.S. Army, working as a psychology specialist in charge of a mental hygiene clinic at Reynolds Army Hospital, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Following discharge from the Army, he returned to UW-Madison to obtain his doctorate in rehabilitation counseling in 1974.

On July 28, 1974, he married Susanne Munro at the First Congregational Church Chapel, Madison. They settled for a time in Honolulu, where he was assistant professor at the University of Hawaii Department if Educational Psychology, While there he developed a training program for rehabilitation personnel in the Pacific. Moving to San Francisco in 1978 was appointed Director and Associate Professor Rehabilitation Administration at the university. This California-based program provides training for executive boards, directors, program makers, and those persons employed in rehabilitation centers,

Selected by the Board of Directors of the U.S. Jaycees to be included in their publication, 1981 Outstanding Young Men of America, he was elected President of the national organization of the Association for the Education of Rehabilitation Faculty Personnel, in 1984.

Surviving are his wife; parents; two brothers, Dr. Russell Gardner, Jr., Galveston, Texas, and Dr. Wayne S. Gardner, Ann Arbor, Michigan; three nieces and two nephews.

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Obit: Kuechenmeister, Ernest C. (1897 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kuechenmeister, Hantke, Young, Slocumb, Gassen, Erickson, Lepke, Drescher, Voll

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/23/1985

Kuechenmeister, Ernest (30 November 1897 - 22 May 1985)

Neillsville resident, Ernest B. Kuechenmeister, 87, expired at his home on Wednesday, May 22. Rev. Mark Voll conducted the funeral service held Saturday, May 25 at the Gesche Funeral Home. Music was provided by Mrs. Viginia Gassen. Interment was made in the Town of Grant Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dennis and Gary Kuechenmeister, George Erickson, Wade Lepke, Harold and Vernon Drescher.

He was born in the Town of Grant on November 30, 1897, the son of Clemence and Elizabeth (Hantke) Kuechenmeister. He was educated at the Kurth School. Following his education he farmed with is parents. Marrying Ethel Young in March 1924, at St. Paul, Minnesota, later took over the “home” farm and operated that until his retirement, in 1972. They then moved to 503 W. 14th St., Neillsville, where they lived until his death.

Surviving are his wife; one son, William, Arlington Heights, Illinois; one sister, Anita Slocumb, Menomonie; 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

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Obit: Roehl, Gary W. (1961 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Roehl, Vine, Tompkins, White, Steinbach, Richmond, Olson, Lautenbach, Parker, Freberg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/9/1985

Roehl, Gary W. (4 July 1961 – 1 May 1985)

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 4, at Zion American Lutheran Church, Granton, for Gary W. Roehl. The deceased, who took his life, was found dead on May, in the Town of Lynn. Interment was made in the Lynn Cemetery with Rev. Dale Freberg officiating. Pallbearers were Larry White, Tim Steinbach, Marvin Richmond, Greg Olson, Todd Tompkins and Duane Lautenbach. Joy Parker was the organist.

Gary was born on July 4, 1961, at Neillsville, and received his education at Wisconsin Rapids and Granton, graduating in 1980.

Surviving family include his parents Jerald Roehl, Colby, and Donna Vine, Granton; stepmother Mrs. Jerald Roehl, stepfather Dale Vine; brother Craig and sister Sherry, at home in Granton; several step-brothers and sisters; grandfather Walter Roehl, Granton; and maternal grandmother Lois Tompkins, Osseo.

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Obit: Stratton, Kevin D. (1983 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Stratton, Drescher, Suhr, Hanson

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/16/1985

Stratton, Kevin D. (7 February 1983 – 25 April 1985)

Two-year old Kevin D. Stratton died at his home, April 25, a victim of accidental drowning. Born February 7, 1983, in Orlando, he was the son of Bruce and Donna (Drescher) Stratton, former Tomah residents, of 141 Summerset Drive, Apopka, Florida.

Funeral services were held on Monday, April 29, at the Assembly of God Church, Tomah. Rev. Paul Hanson officiated, and burial was in the Warrens Cemetery.

Surviving are his parents; two brothers, Bryan and Joshua, both at home; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Frieda Stratton, Tomah; maternal grandparents, Norman and Marie (Suhr), also of Tomah.

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Obit: Tibbett, Irene (1905 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Tibbett, Miller, Leland, Henseler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/16/1985

Tibbett, Irene (29 March 1905 – 8 May 1985)

Eighty year old Neillsville resident, Irene Tibbett passed away at her home on Wednesday, May 8, following a brief illness.

She was born in Eau Claire on March 29, 1905, the daughter of Andrew and Kate (Miller) Leland. She attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1923. For ten years, she was employed as a secretary in Eau Claire.

On May 23, 1933, she married John W. Tibbett at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Eau Claire; they made their home in Neillsville where Mr. Tibbett was in the ice and fuel business. He preceded her in death on May 6, 1961, after which time she accepted a position as a deputy in the Clark County Registrar of Deeds office here in Neillsville. Even after her retirement in 1975, she continued to work on a part-time basis at the office. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville, P.C.C.W., and the Women of the Moose.

Surviving are two sons, James and John Tibbett, both of Rockford, Illinois; a sister, Mrs. Louise Tibbett, Neillsville; a brother, Joseph Leland, Eau Claire; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Rev. Joseph Henseler officiated at funeral services held on Saturday, May 11 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Pallbearers were, Richard Tibbett, William Tibbett, James Tibbett, Jr., Tom (Bruce) Tibbett, Robert Tibbett, and Bruce Tibbett.

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Obit: Vieau, Joseph J. (1911 - 1985)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Vieau, Hurlburt, Hale, Chase, Seebandt, Wier, Button, Bohac, Kling, Dempsey, Matalas, Rolfs, Henseler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/16/1985

Vieau, Joseph J. (12 June 1911 – 12 May 1985) With Flag

Merrillan resident, Joseph J. Vieau, 73, passed away following a brief illness on Sunday, May 12, at the Hospice Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield.

He was born June 12, 1911, at De Pere, the son of Joseph and Mary (Hurlburt) Vieau. Educated there and in Two Rivers, he worked at various jobs until 1935 when he arrived in Hatfield to work at the CCC Camp. Later he owned and operated the Thunderbird Roller Skating Rink and a tavern in Hatfield.

During World War II, he entered the service on May 19, 1943. A Staff Sergeant with Company C., 371st Medical Battalion, he served in the European and African theatres, until his discharge April 25, 1946.

On May 9, 1953, he married Jean E. Hale in South Milwaukee. Returning to Hatfield, he owned cottages, a bar, and a rock shop. Following his retirement in 1975, he continued to make his home in Hatfield. Joeseph held membership in the Jackson County Tavern League and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Surviving ae his wife; five children, Mrs. Kenneth (Joann) Chase, Junction City, Mary Lynn Seebandt, Marshfield, Sandra Vieau, Minneapolis, John Vieau, Medford, and Thomas Vieau, Merrillan; one sister, Mrs. Joseph Wier, and one brother, Leo Vieau, both of Two Rivers; six grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, one brother, and four sisters.

Visitation is set for Wednesday, May 15, 7-9 p.m. and Thursday morning until 10 a.m. at Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville; the Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Funeral Home. Father Joseph Henseler will officiate at the funeral service on Thursday, May 16, 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville. Interment will be in the Hatfield Cemetery. Pallbearers were Larry Button, Virgil Bohac, Duane Kling, Robert Dempsey, Tony Matalas and Robert Rolfs.

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